The orc leader is called “Adar” and it’s also the name of the episode. Tried to dig up something on him but he’s created for this show.
-Arondir notes that Adar is an elf word – it probably means “father” in one of the two elf dialects Tolkien created, which we know from Tom Bombadil’s elf name, Iarwain Ben-adar, meaning “Eldest and Fatherless.”-
The elves even say that Adar is another name for Sauron.
“Eldest, that’s what I am. Mark my words, my friends: Tom was here before the river and the trees; Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn. He made paths before the Big People, and saw the little People arriving. He was here before the kings and the graves and the Barrow-wights. When the elves passed westward, Tom was here already, before the seas were bent. He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside.”
Rewatched it. Halbrand is very interesting character. Says he’s a king etc. seems like a secret douche. Wondering if he’s the witch king. Love the mysterious way this is coming out. Fan theorizing feels like matrix or last season of GoT before they destroyed our hearts. Hope it delivers.
Yeah, Halbrand is hard to figure out. Seems to have well-trained thieving skills. Not outright evil, but willing to bend the rules to get what he wants.
Nori too, I'm not sure what role she will play, gets a lot of screen time, so I assume it's important.
I just watched the first three eps tonight with the wife.
I purposely avoided reading anything about the series, other than with the understanding that it took place thousands (?) of years before LOTR or Hobbit.
So that said, I'm a little sad to see Galadriel pop up and be one of the main characters, as well as Elrond. And to see Sauron in LOTR character design already pop up, though briefly.
There was a lot of dialogue re-usage from LOTR, in the first ep alone two quotes of Boromir were used practically word-for-word and Elrond also said something that he said in LOTR. It's weak writing to have the same dialogue. We get it, it's tied to LOTR, you don't have to say the same damn dialogue, even if is an "homage".
I do thing Galadriel is badass, and the actress is absolutely adorable.
I'm also fearing that the fallen star is Gandalf, but I'm really hoping it isn't. But watching how the actor moves (especially when he's talking to the fireflies) it's the same movement mannerisims of Gandalf in LOTR. So, again, I just don't get why we can't have a story that is free from throwing LOTR characters in there. If you have a completely blank slate, go off in all kinds of new directions. You don't need to tie it so hard into what has come before. Actually, you do, because with this much money on the line you want everyone who knows LOTR both book and movie to be able to watch this and keep going "Look! Gandalf!", "Look! Look! I get these references!"
I'm invested in the series and will keep watching it, but I was hoping they wouldn't have to tie it so much to LOTR. I mean, I know they have to tie it so closely because they want the broadest viewership possible, but, yea.
Thank GOD it doesn't have Game of Thrones-style sex in it. That would have ruined it.
It's like the Star Wars prequels. Obi-wan, Anakin, & Palpatine were a supporting/side-character in Ep IV,V&VI, but the main character in I,II,&III. Elrond, Galadriel, and Sauron were supporting/side characters in LoTR, but main characters in Rings of Power.
> Will I still be able to follow along despite knowing NONE of the names yall keep
> bringing up, save for those in the LOTR movies?
I'm not really that expert in it. Rings of Power has stuff in it that I find intriguing and I wonder at the connection it has to LotR. So, I go look it up in a wiki or read Reddit. Then, I post about it because it's exciting to guess about what's going on.
> Episode 4 yikes. So slow. Nothing happened of any importance. I’ll try to watch it
> again but it’s really bummed me out.
Really? I liked it. I guess not much happened but the relationship building was good IMO. I'm not a lore nerd, but I know trilogy inside and out (even have a Nazgul tattoo), and I think the show slaps.
>> Episode 4 yikes. So slow. Nothing happened of any importance. I’ll try to watch
> it
>> again but it’s really bummed me out.
>
> Really? I liked it. I guess not much happened but the relationship building was good
> IMO. I'm not a lore nerd, but I know trilogy inside and out (even have a Nazgul tattoo),
> and I think the show slaps.
Nice. I’m a little too quick to judge on first watch so I always try to erase my palette and go in again. I’m sure I’ll come around. Disappointed that this daddy orc has become your token angry guy.
that she didn't just sail off into the sunlight at the end, and leave all that fighting behind after years of it.
I didn't understand the "eternal spring sail off into the sunlight" thing. I don't recall that from any of the original 3 movies. (Maybe it's mentioned in the books, but I didn't read them.) Is there some sort of alternate elf dimension? Or is it simply a far away nice place that elves get as a reward?
The Elves left Valinor (undying lands) where they are immortal- to come to middle earth. In middle earth they “fade” and will become wraiths or shades if they stay too long- like thousands of years. There’s lots of other confusing lore with the elves like they can voluntarily give away the immortality to become mortal- as Arwen does to stay with Aragorn. Part of this rings of power story will likely be the mistake made by numenor to try to gain the power of valinor- and the actions taken to forever make it inaccessible to mortals.
When the elves go back west it is analogous to them going to heaven and leaving mortal realm.
I don't get it, this series simultaneously does nothing and also completely outmodes the original trilogy. Gladriel could have soloed Fellowship of the Rings in two hours, hold her breath, spin-slice her way through Mt Doom ascent and just slam dunk the crap into the lava. What is she ON dude
I just watched Ep1 finally. I haven't read a single thing you guys have talked about in this thread.
My take - I cannot believe any show managed to fill an ENTIRE HOUR with nothing but confusing, serious conversations between only 2 characters at a time. Literally almost no other scenes besides two people talking about...STUFF. Stuff we have zero knowledge of. I feel like this is SORTA how Game of Thrones (original series) started. I had to rewatch Ep1 a few times in that to get the hang of characters and story line. But this...it just did nothing. I believe if I knew what they were talking about it would be different, but how do they expect anyone who doesn't know all of these people to get INTO this series?
I'm definitely going to give Ep2 a shot. I love the setting and the scenery. It appears to be a high budget, high quality show...but wow I hope the next episode isn't 1 hour of one-on-one conversation.
